'Didn't see that coming': NHL players on hockey's richest summer

Leo Carlsson was in the car with his dad when his agent called with numbers he couldn't quite process.

The Philadelphia Flyers were putting a five-year, $90-million offer sheet in front of the Anaheim Ducks centre, an $18-million average annual value that stood as a league record for a few weeks. Carlsson signed it. Anaheim matched. The 21-year-old is still in California.

"I was surprised," Carlsson said at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas earlier this month. "A weird feeling, (but it's) where the league is heading."

That was the tone across the tour. The salary cap climbs to $104 million for 2026-27, up from $95.5 million last season and well clear of the flat $81.5-million-to-$83.25-million stretch that followed the pandemic. National television money and advertising revenue are driving it, and players spent the summer collecting.

Chicago's Connor Bedard signed a five-year, $75-million extension. San Jose's Macklin Celebrini got $94 million over the same term. Colorado defenceman Cale Makar landed eight years and $163.2 million.

"These deals are crazy," Vancouver forward Brock Boeser said. "Definitely didn't see that coming, but it's awesome."

The flip side is the group that signed long-term during the flat-cap years. Boeser's seven-year, $50.75-million deal came in July 2025. Ottawa defenceman Jake Sanderson took eight years and $64 million in 2023. Buffalo centre Tage Thompson signed seven years for $50 million back in 2022.

"Tough to gauge where the cap's going to go and, honestly, where your career is going," Thompson said. "Do I think there's guys that wish they would have held out a little bit? And am I one of those guys? Obviously you would have liked to sign a big ticket and get as much money as humanly possible. But at the end of the day, you're still talking about (lots of money)."

Sidney Crosby's average annual value has sat at $8.7 million since 2008-09, when the ceiling was $56.7 million.

"It just evolves," the Pittsburgh captain said. "I don't try to compare because now is different than then. It's been a pretty sudden change with the last few contracts, with the offer sheet."

Boston's David Pastrnak, who signed for eight years and $90 million in 2023, framed it differently.

"Bobby Orr was not making same money I'm making," he said.